Water processing apparatus



Nov. 13, 1956 Filed Nov. 2'7, 1955 H. c. KUNZE I WATER PROCESSING APPARATUS \i JEL =51:

E a z: I i I 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 u HENRY C- KUNZE,

INVENTOR.

Hue-amen, BEEF/LEI? women. a HERZM,

ATTORNEYS.

NW. 13, 1956 H. c. KUNZE WATER PROCESSING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1953 By 4 "m 14,1;

Um 7f Nov. 13, 1956 H. c. KUNZE WATER PROCESSING APPARATUS E 5 m km W w w m x m w v H WORREL 8 HERZ/G,

Filed Nov. 27-, 1953 A T TORNEVS.

United States Patent WATER PROCESSING APPARATUS Henry C. Kunze, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Railway Steam Research Corporation, Monterey Park, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 27, 1953, Serial No. 394,703

2 Claims. (Cl. 261-77) This invention relates to water processing apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for preheating, deaerating, and inhibiting feed water going to a steam boiler such as might be used on a railway engine.

It is an object of this invention to provide improved apparatus for deaerating feed water going to a steam generating boiler. By the term deaerating is meant the removal of occluded, dissolved, and entrained gases in the feed water.

It is another object of this invention to provide such water processing apparatus as also includes an inhibiting means which inhibits the corrosive action of the water upon the various pipes, including the boiler pipes.

It is another object of this invention to provide such deaerating and inhibiting action with a safety feature such that the inhibitor cannot go dry, in case the feed water or surge tank becomes exhausted, so that the feed pump begins to pull a vacuum on the deaerating tank.

It is a further object of this invention to provide improved apparatus for more completely deaerating gases from feed water.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a combined preheater, deaerator, and inhibitor, particularly for use on railway steam engines.

It is another object of this invention to provide a combined apparatus as above, in which more even and uniform preheating temperature is assured at the outlet of the apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide water processing apparatus for removing in an improved manner minerals from the water, which would tend otherwise to precipitate out in the steam generating boiler.

It is a further object of this invention to provide water processing apparatus which is of simplified construction, so that it may be more readily accessible for cleaning out and inspection.

It is a further object of this invention to provide improved recirculating nozzle means for eifecting recirculation of water within Water processing apparatus.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially sectioned, of an apparatus embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an abbreviated longitudinal section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on line 55 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on line 77 in Fig.5.

Fig. 8 is a phantom isometric view of a portion of the apparatus.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional plan taken on line 99 in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 16 designates an elongate water containing tank, generally oblong in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 5. At its head, the tank 16 is closed by an operational header 17, formed from a solid block of steel and suitably bored to provide water passages, as will be explained hereinafter. At its foot, the tank 16 is closed by an end header 18, also formed of a solid block of steel and bored in a different manner to provide certain desired water passages. Within the tank 16 and extending the length thereof, are a pair of substantially parallel tubes 19 and 21. The ends of the tubes 19 and 21 are secured to the respective headers 17 and 18, as shown in Fig. 3.

Resting Within the tubes 19 and 21 are a pair of elongate inhibitors 22 and 23, respectively. These inhibitors serve to act upon the water in contact therewith so as to render it less corrosive to its containers, such as the heating tubes of a boiler.

In the end header 18 are formed a pair of transverse passageways 24 and 26, which are aligned with the tubes 22 and 23, respectively, and which are of diameter sub stantially the same as the interior diameter of the tubes. The passageways 24 and 26 are thus large enough to permit passage of the inhibitors 22 and 23, so that the inhibitors may be withdrawn and replaced from the apparatus through the passageways 24 and 26. The passageways 24 and 26 are closed by a cap means 27, one such cap being provided for each of the two openings 24 and 26.

As shown in Fig. 9, each cap 27 is provided around its rim with a gasket 23. To maintain each cap 27 in place, a bar 29 is held in place transversely across the cap by a pair of apertured lugs 31 spanned by the bar 29. A

screw 32 threaded transversely through the bar 29 bears against the center of the cap 27 to hold it firmly against the end header 18.

Water inlet conduit means in the form of a water inlet passage 33, is formed vertically in the operational header 17, as shown in Fig. 8. At its lower end the passage 33 communicates with a short transverse bore 34 into which is threaded an inlet pipe 36 bringing feed water to the apparatus. The open, upper end of the bore or passage 33 is closed ofi by a plug 37. A horizontal bore or passage 38 is formed in the operational header 17 communicating with the vertical bore 33. The open end of the bore 38 is closed by a plug 39. Communicating with the horizontal bore 38 is a tapped bore 41 (Fig. 4), into which is threaded a water circulating, steam injection nozzle 42, adapted to be connected to a steam pipe 43, which draws steam from the boiler (or other source) for operating the preheating and deaerating apparatus of the present invention.

The inlet conduit 33-38 communicates with the interior of the tank 16, externally of the tubes 19 and 21, by means of a tapped hole 44 (Fig. 4) in the header 17 immediately opposite the nozzle 42, so that the nozzle opens into the inlet conduit and is directed into the tank through the opening 44. Into the bore or opening 44 is threaded a feed pipe 46, the inner end of which is cut on a bias as shown at 47 so as to cause the mouth of the inlet pipe 46 to open upward, as shown in Fig. 1.

Passage means are provided for the entry of water from the tank 16 into the tube 21, such passage means taking the form of a plurality of openings 48 formed in the walls of the tube 21 at the head end thereof adjacent the operational header 17.

Passage means are also provided for the water to flow from the tube 21 up to the tube 19 at the foot of the tank through the end header 18, this passage means taking the form of a passageway or bore 49 formed vertically in the end header 18, and communicating with the two bores 24 and 26 which in turn communicate with the tubes 19 and 21, respectively. The bore 49 is offset from the center lines of the bores 24 and 26 in order to minimize the break in the interior surface of the bores 24 and 26, since such a break has a tendency to snag the inhibitors 22 and 23 during insertion and removal.

The operational header 17 is also provided with outlet conduit means comprising a vertical bore 51 (Fig. 8) the lower end of which communicates with a short bore 52 to which is threaded an outlet pipe 53 which runs to the stream generating boiler. A thermometer 56 (Fig. 2) may be inserted in a small bone 54 in the header 17 which communicates with the bore 51. The bore 51 communicates with the top of the tube 19, adjacent the header 17, by means of an L-shaped pipe '7 disposed within the tank 16 as shown in Fig. 3. The L-shaped pipe 57 serves to carry the deaerated, heated, and treated water from the tube 17 into the bore 51 in the header 1'7 and thence to the \outlet pipe 53.

Communicating with the top of the tank 16, generally over the upwardly faced mouth 47 of the feed pipe 46, is a gas-escape conduit 58 (Fig. 3) which leads upward to a feed or surge tank, the surface of which is exposed to atmosphere so that released gas bubbles escaping from the tank 16 into the conduit 58 may be released to the atmosphere. The upper end of the bore 51 in the header 17 communicates with the gas escape conduit or vent 58 by means of a pipe 59. This provides final escape of separated gases just before the hot water is withdrawn from the apparatus, and also serves to prevent emptying of the tube 19 in the event that the supply tank or the surge tank should go dry, so that the apparatus is subjected to a siphoning action through the outlet pipe 53 as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

A recirculation passageway or conduit is provided in the header 17 between the head end of the tube 19 and the inlet passage. This recirculation conduit comprises a short bore 61 in the header 17 which communicates between the end lOf the tube 19 and the inner end of the bore 38. Thus, whenever steam is injected into the tank through the nozzle 42, water is recirculated (by aspiration) out of the tube 19 through the bore 61, through the bore 38, and back into the tank 16 through the feed pipe 46. Hence, with each injection of steam, there is continual recirculation with consequent continued deaera tion and inhibiting of the water.

In order to empty the tank 16 of water for inspection and cleaning out purposes, a drain pipe 62 is provided in end header 18 (Fig. 3).

Steam, before entering the pipe 43, is passed through a valve 63 under the control of a thermostat 64. In this way the water within the tank 16 is maintained at a sub stantially constant temperature, since whenever the tern perature drops below the setting of the thermostat 64, more steam is admitted through the valve 63 and through the nozzle 42, thereby bringing the water in the tank 16 up to the desired temperature. Each injection of steam further deaerates and circulates the water in the appara tus in a manner which will be described more in detail hereinafter.

The recirculating nozzle 42 is of special design, being characterized by a plurality of side orifices 66 which communicate with the passage 38 in which the nozzle 42 is disposed. These orifices admit water from the bore or passage 38 into the nozzle 42 proper, where it is commingled with the steam and forced by aspiration or Ven turi action into the tank 16 through the feed pipe 46. The slanting of the orifices 66 in the manner shown, from outside to inside toward the mouth of the nozzle 42 appreciably enhances the circulating effect upon the water for a given amount of injected steam.

Each of the inhibitors 22 and 23, in actual practice, comprises a plurality of individual aligned units, which are hooked together by a unique hook arrangement illustrated in Figs. 3 and.9. Each inhibitor section is comprised of a central longitudinal rod 67, to which the inhibitor "elements 68 are transversely secured. To one end of the rod 67 is threaded a long nut 69 which has a transverse hole 71 (Fig. 9) therethrough. On the other end of the rod 67 is a second nut 72 to which is welded a hook 73. The hook 73 extends longitudinally away from the nut 72, and thence turns radially inward, so that it may be secured through the hole 71 in the next adjacent inhibitor section. In this way, any number of inhibitor sections may be linked together as they are pushed into the tube 19. By thus hooking the inhibitors together, their ready removal is assured when it is time to inseptct or replace them.

Operation The operation of the present invention is as follows:

Feed water enters the apparatus through the pipe 36, here 34, bore 33, bore 38, bore 44, feed pipe 46 and into the tank 16. in the tank 16 it mixes with the other water in the tank and achieves the same temperature as the water already in the tank. Even if no water is being withdrawn from the apparatus through the outlet pipe 53, the loss of heat through the tank walls will nevertheless cause the water temperature to drop. This drop in temperature is sensed by the the thermostat 64, which causes the steam valve 63 to open, and injects steam through the pipe 43 and nozzle 42 into the feed pipe 46. As the steam is injected into the tank 16 through the feed pipe 46, the sudden condensation of the steam causes momentary vacuum bubbles to form, which effect release of the occluded gases in the water. These gases then come out of occlusion and form small but finite gas bubbles. By virtue of the placement of the vent pipe 53 above and slightly in advance of the upwardly tapered mouth 47 of the feed pipe 46, these bubbles have opportunity to rise immediately up to the vent pipe 58 and thence upward into the surge tank where they escape to the atmosphere.

Continual heating of the newly injected feed water from the pipe 53 causes various minerals and salts in the water, as for example silica, to precipitate out soon after the water has entered the tank 16. These precipitated materials, for the most part, settle to the bottom of the tank 16 and do not remain in the water in soluble form. Since these minerals settle out in the tank 16 and in general do not enter the tubes 15 and 21, they are readily extracted fnom the apparatus during periodic cleaning thereof. Settling out of the minerals in the tubes 19 and 21 would coat the inhibitors 22 and 23 with a layer of minerals and quickly destroy the inhibiting properties of the inhibitors.

Each period of steam injection through the nozzle 42 also serves to recirculate the water through the apparatus. This is achieved through the Ventnri action of the nozzle, both at its mouth and also through the injection orifices 66. As steam is admitted to the tank 16 through the nozzle 42, it draws water from the tube 19, through the bore 61, into the bore 38, and then into the feed pipe 4-6. In this Way, water is continually recirculated Within the apparatus with each injection of steam. This recirculation path is: From the tank 16 proper, through the inlet passageways 4-8, thence into the tube 21, thence into the bore 49 in the end header 1S, thence up into the tube 19, into the bore 61, bore 33, into the feed pipe 46, and again into the tank 16.

Whenever Water is Withdrawn from the apparatus through the outlet pipe 53, it is immediately replaced by an inflow of make-up water from the pipe 36. As soon as even a small quantity of feed or make-up water has entered the tank, the effect is immediately sensed by the thermostat 64, which promptly causes an injection of steam through the nozzle $2 to bring the temperature back to the desired steady state condition.

The thermostat also efiects intermittent steam injection whenever the Water temperature drops down for any other reason, as by loss of heat through radiation, convection, or otherwise. in practice it has been found within a range of from 192 to 198 F.

If the released gas bubbles do not rise immediately and escape through the vent pipe 58, they have opportunity to gradually find their way into the vent pipe 58 as they remain in the tank 16. Gas bubbles which might be drawn into the tube 21, are transferred through the tubes 21 and 19 into the outlet bore 51. At this point they are given another opportunity to rise and escape into the vent pipe 58 through the communicating pipe 59. Thus the pipe 59 serves as a final escape point for any gases which may have separated out during passage of the water through the tube or may have failed to rise to the vent pipe 58 upon initial entry into the tank 16.

The inhibitors 22 and 23 are harmed if exposed to air, that is, if allowed to go dry. Hence it is highly desirable to provide some means for assuring that the drawing of a vacuum on the pipe 53 by the boiler feed pump will not cause either of the tubes 19 or 2?. to go dry. Such an anti-siphon means is provided by the above mentioned connecting pipe 59 in conjunction with the placement oi the L-shaped outlet 57 at the top of the tube 19.

if the surge or supply tank to which the vent pipe 58 is connected should go dry, a continued withdrawal of water from the outlet pipe 53 would draw all the water out of the vent pipe 58 and lower the Water level in the tank down to the L-shaped connecting or outlet pipe 57. At this point, however, continued pumping by the feed pump in the pipe 53 would not suck further water from the apparatus, but the feed pump drawing water from the apparatus would be forced to accept air from the vent pipe 5 through the connecting pipe 59. Thus the pipes 19 and 21 would remain full and the water level within the tank 16 would remain substantially even with the top of the tube 19.

The construction of the headers 17 and 13, particularly the former, provides ready access for inspection and clean-out of the apparatus, and permits the feed pump line to be readily cleaned of suspended solids.

The provision of the tank 16 around the tubes 19 and 21 provides a mixing chamber for the water wherein a more even water temperature may be acquired. This is highly desirable because most steam generators are rather critical in their design, being designed for a predetermined narrow range of inlet temperature in order to achieve high efficiency. If the temperature of the water supplied to the steam generator varies over a wide range, it is impossible for the steam generator to operate at high etficiency at all times. By causing the water flow from the apparatus to be substantially uniform in temperature, the steam generator is enabled to operate at maximum etiiciency at all times. The tank 16 also provides for initial settling out of silica and other minerals before the water flows into the tubes 19 and 21, as mentioned hereinbefore.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

]. Water processing apparatus comprising an elongate water tank, a first header closing one end of said tank, a second header closing the other end of said tank, said headers being formed of solid metal blocks secured to the ends of said tank, a pair of tubes disposed longitudinally within said tank and secured at each end to said headers, a water inlet passageway in said first header communicating with said tank externally of said tubes, a feed pipe secured to said first header in communication with said inlet passageway and extending into said tank parallel to said tubes, the mouth of said feed pipe being formed on a bias and opening upward, a steam nozzle in said first header projecting toward said feed pipe, etfective to inject steam into said tank through said feed pipe and adapted to be connected to a source of steam, one of said tubes having an opening therein adjacent said first header for entry of water from said tank into said one tube, said second header having a passageway communicating between said pair of tubes for passage of water from said one tube to the other tube, a circulation passageway in said first header communicating between said inlet passageway and the end of said other tube to permit recirculation of water through said tubes by virtue of injected steam, outlet conduit means communicating with said other tube through the top thereof and adjacent said first header, adapted to convey water away from the apparatus, and vent conduit means communicating with said tank at the top thereof generally above the mouth of said feed pipe and extending upward from said tank.

2. Water processing apparatus comprising an elongate water tank, a first header closing one end of said tank, a second header closing the other end of said tank, said headers being formed of solid metal blocks secured to the ends of said tank, a pair of tubes disposed longitudinally within said tank and secured at each end to said headers, a water inlet passageway in said first header communicating with said tank externally of said tubes, a steam nozzle in said first header effective to inject steam into said tank and adapted to be connected to a source of steam, one of said tubes having an opening therein adjacent said first header for entry of water from said tank into said one tube, said second header having a passageway communicating between said pair of tubes for passage of water from said one tube to the other tube, a circulation passageway in said first header communicating between said inlet passageway and the end of said other tube to permit recirculation of water through said tubes by virtue of injected steam, outlet conduit means communicating with said other tube through the top thereof and adjacent said first header, adapted to convey water away from the apparatus, vent conduit means communicating with said tank at the top thereof and extending upward from said tank, and siphon preventing conduit means communicating between said outlet conduit means and said vent conduit means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,723,082 Schumann Aug. 6, 1929 1,960,013 Jacobsen May 22, 1934 2,629,689 Green et al Feb. 24, 1953 2,669,440 Lindenbergh Feb. 16, 1954 

